Method and apparatus for efficient use of voice trunks for accessing a service resource in the PSTN

Abstract

A method and apparatus for efficiently utilizing resources for accessing a service resource in a switched telephone network are described. The service resource is accessed by a calling party who interacts with the service resource, the interaction results in routing information for completing a call. The apparatus includes a call control node that is a virtual switching node in a switching plane of the network and a physical node in a signaling plane of the network. The call control node may be a logical node in a trunk group used to access the service resource. The call control node receives control messages related to calls completed to the service resource. In accordance with the method, the service resource passes routing information to the call control node. The call control node initiates actions to release the facilities used to access the service resource, and to establish a new call connection using the routing information without disconnecting the calling party. An ISUP Release message containing a Service Activation Parameter and a Generic Address Parameter are used for that purpose. The advantages include the ability to offer enhanced services using service resources, while efficiently utilizing facilities in the switched telephone network to ensure access to the service resource and to increase return on investment.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.